Automatic stamp-affixer.



No. 655,865. Patented Aug. l4, I900.

H. HERRICK. AUTOMATIC STAMP AFFIXER.

(Application filed Dad. 9, 1899.

(No Model.)

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Uivrrnn fi'rn'rns PATENT OFFER;

I-IOUGHTON HERRICK, OF BOONVILLE, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC STAIVI P-AFFIXER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,865, dated August 14, 190 0. Application filed December 9, 1899. erial N0. 739,825. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, HOUGHTON linemen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boonville, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stamp-Affixers, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to machines for aflixing stamps to envelope; and its object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this character which may be effectively operated with accuracy and speed to feed astrip of stamps forward, to moisten the stamps successively, and to sever them one by one and press them upon the envelops.

The construction of the improvement will be fully described hereinafter and defined in the appended claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

, In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof.

The body or casing of the device consists of parallel sides 1 and 2 and a curved bottom 3, connecting the sides at their lower edges and at one end. "Within the casing and secured to the sides thereof is a concave plate 4, arranged above the bottom 3. The space between the bottom-3 and concave plate 4 is adapted to receive a sponge or other absorbent filling 5, which is adapted to be saturated with water.

6 designates a wetting-roller supported upon a revoluble shaft 7, held in bearings formed in the sides of the casing and located in front of the plate 4 in position to contact with the saturated material 5. Above this roller 6 is arranged a second roller 8, supported in hearings in the sides of the casing parallel to the Wetting-roller 6 and in frictional con: tact therewith.

The upper edges of the sides 1 and 2 are bent upon themselves to form keepers 9,which secure the upper parallel portions of two springs 10 and 11, the upper ends ofwhich are bent toward each other and joined to a handle 12. The springs 10 and 11 extend rearward from the casing and are coiled at the points 13 and then brought forward for attachment to a base-plate 14, the ends of which are bent around the springs, as shown, and one of said springs terminates in a vertical hook 15, extending through a loop 16, projecting from the outer side of the front end of one of the sides of the casing, while the other spring after passing beyond the plate 1 1 is bent laterally to form a horizontal arm 17 and terminates in a vertical hook 18, engaging one end of a cross-banlD.

Upon the projecting end of the cross-bar 19 is fulcrumed a lever 20 by means of a pin 21. The short arm 22 of this lever is connected by a link 23 with the outer end of the arm 17, and the lower edge of the long arm of the lever 20 is sharpened to constitute a knife to sever the stamps.

Projecting from the outer side of the knife, at right angles thereto, is a presser-plate 24, said presser-plate and knife being provided with a retracting-spring 25, secured at one end thereto and at its opposite end to the fulcrum-pin 21 of the knife-lever.

26 designates a sleeve supported in openings in the sides of the casing,and within said sleeve is supported a revoluble shaft 27, the ends of which project beyond the sides of the casing. The sleeve 26 serves as a bearing for the shaft 27 and also as a guide over which the strip of stamps passes.

Upon one end of the shaft 27 is fixed a ratchet-wheel 28, adapted to be engaged by a pawl 29, depending from a lever 30, fulcrumed at one end upon the shaft 27 and slotted at its opposite end for attachment to the upper slotted end of a link 31 by means of a connecting end pin 32. The lower end of the link 31 is attached to a hook 32, projecting from theinner end of the arm 17. Upon the opposite end of the shaft 27 is fixed a gear-wheel 33, meshing with a pinion 31, fixed upon the end of a shaft 35, mounted in bearings of the sides of the casing. This shaft 35 also carries a gear-wheel 36, concentric with the pinion 34.- and meshing with the pinion 37, fixed upon the adjacent end of the shaft f the wetting-roller.

The operation of the device is as follows: A strip of stamps is inserted between the sides of the casing, so that its end will be engaged between the rollers 6 and 8. The casing is then depressed by means of the handle '12, and the retraction thereofby means of the spring'coils 13 causes the pawl 29 to engage one of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 28, thus imparting a partial revolution to the gear-wheel 33 and revolving the rollers 6 and 8 in opposite directions through the medium of the gear-train described to feed the strip forward far enough to project one stamp clear of the cross-bar 19 and present the line of perforations between said first stamp and the next one in position to be acted upon by the knife. The passage of the stamp over the roller 6 wets the mucilage on the stamp, and the next depression of the handle severs the stamp, and the presser 24 presses it upon the envelop. The gearing of the machine is so proportioned that the next stamp will be projected under the presser-plate when the latter is in the raised position shown in Fig. 2, and the "feed and application of the stamps may be effected with speed and accuracy.

The combined knife and presser-plate is depressed by the casing and retracted by the spring 24, and the upward movement of the casing is limited by Contact with the hooks 15 and 18.

I claim 1. In a stamp-affixing device, the combination with a base-plate, of parallel springs secured thereto and formed with coils; a casing secured to said springs; a handle connecting the upper ends of said springs; a moistener within said casing; aWetting-roller supported revolubly transversely of the casing; a feedroller adapted to be revolved by the wettingroller; gearing for revolving the wettingroller; and means for actuating said gearing, comprising a lever carrying a pawl, and having a link connection with the base-plate.

2. In a stamp-affixing machine, the combination with a base-plate; of springs secured thereto formed with coils, and bent to form parallel arms having converging ends; a handle secured to said ends; a casing suspended from said parallel arms; a transverse plate within the casing to form a moistener-compartment; a wetting roller revolubly supported within the casing; a feed-roller driven by the Wetting-roller; gearing for driving the wetting-roller; and actuating means for the gearing.

In' testimony whereof I attix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOUGI-ITON HERRICK.

Witnesses:

LEONARD W. J oNEs, WAYNE K. RAMsAY. 

